Public Service Ads

There are numerous erroneous claims in The Times’ attack on the broadcast industry (“TV Snubs the Public Interest,” editorial, Aug. 24), but none more outrageous than the assertion that public service announcements have dropped dramatically on television and radio.

Earlier this year, the Ad Council announced that in 1997 broadcasters donated a record $703.3 million in air time for PSAs--up from $633.9 million in 1996--to educate viewers and listeners on topics as diverse as breast cancer, drug abuse, drunk driving and AIDS awareness.

The National Assn. of Broadcasters recently unveiled results of a first-ever nationwide census on the community service efforts of local stations. The census found that in 1997 broadcasters voluntarily provided $6.85 billion in service to viewers and listeners in the form of air time donated for PSAs, money raised for charity and free air time donated for political debates and conventions.

That nearly $7-billion figure did not include instances of stations preempting regular programming to cover breaking weather emergencies, earthquakes and other natural disasters. Nor did it include the countless hours of off-air service donated by station personnel to worthwhile community causes.

Broadcasters will proudly put our record of public service up against that of any other industry.

DENNIS WHARTON

Senior Vice President

NAB, Washington